Robert Lindner GmbH

Robert Lindner GmbH is an owner-managed German delicatessen and food-retail company headquartered in Berlin. It was founded in 1950 by Robert Lindner, who began by selling fine foods at a weekly market in Berlin-Schmargendorf. The business grew into a chain of delicatessen shops and became especially well known in Berlin under the brand name "Butter Lindner"; since 2005 the stores have traded simply as "Lindner", although many customers still use the older name. The company combines retail with its own production: an in-house delicatessen kitchen, bakery and confectionery supply roughly 3,000 specialties, supplemented by selected delicatessen manufactories. Lindner's history is closely tied to the Lindner family. Robert Lindner opened the first delicatessen shop in 1964 and, in the same year, began a collaboration with a bakery that led to the development of the long-running Lindner Krustenbrot (crusty bread), which the company says it has baked unchanged since 1950. After 39 years he handed the business to his son Michael Lindner, who opened the first in-house bakery in 1991. Under Michael Lindner the company expanded beyond Berlin: the first Hamburg shop opened in 1998, followed by Potsdam in 2011. The brand colors changed from red and blue to blue and gold in 1997. In 2008 the company incorporated a bakery and confectionery business dating back to 1871, and in 2014 its fine bakery was renamed Lindner BackKunst. As of 2022 the company operated 38 delicatessen shops in Berlin, nine in Hamburg and one in Potsdam, and also sold through three Berlin weekly markets, its own catering service and a nationwide online shop. Its assortment spans Bavarian and seasonal classics, hearty Brotzeit, sweet treats, Obazda, pretzels, Weisswurst, Leberkäse and other specialties, alongside its signature Krustenbrot. The company has received recognition including the German Retail Prize (Deutscher Handelspreis) in 2005 for management performance, and Michael Lindner was named "Entrepreneur of the Year" in 2006 and awarded the Federal Cross of Merit in 2007 for his commitment to training young people. Lindner remains a privately held, family-run business and is a well-known Berlin food institution.

Robert Lindner founded the company in 1950, starting out by selling goods at a weekly market in Berlin-Schmargendorf. In 1964 the first delicatessen shop was opened, and in the same year Lindner began a collaboration with a bakery that led to the development of the Lindner Krustenbrot, a bread the company says it has baked unchanged since 1950. The 25th delicatessen shop in Berlin opened in 1980. After 39 years, Robert Lindner handed the company over to his son Michael Lindner, who in 1991 opened the first in-house bakery. Under Michael Lindner the business modernized and expanded. In 1997 the brand colors were changed from red and blue to blue and gold. In 1998 the first delicatessen shop outside Berlin opened in Hamburg. In 2005 the company received the German Retail Prize (Deutscher Handelspreis) in the management-performance category. In 2006 Michael Lindner was named "Entrepreneur of the Year" by the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Selbständiger Unternehmer, and the same year Lindner Catering was launched. In 2007 Michael Lindner received the Federal Cross of Merit for his ambitious training of young people. In 2008 a bakery and confectionery business dating back to 1871 became part of the company. In 2011 the first delicatessen shop in Potsdam opened. In 2013 the company's website was redesigned and it was recognized as one of "Berlin's Best Employers". In 2014 the fine bakery was renamed Lindner BackKunst. By 2022 the company operated 38 delicatessen shops in Berlin, nine in Hamburg and one in Potsdam, and additionally sold products at three weekly markets in Berlin and through its own catering service. Its assortment comprised around 3,000 specialties (as of 2018), sourced from its own delicatessen kitchen, bakery and confectionery as well as from selected delicatessen manufactories. The company remains owner-managed and privately held, and is known in Berlin under the traditional name "Butter Lindner", even though the shops have traded as "Lindner" since 2005.

• 2014

  Fine bakery renamed Lindner BackKunst.

• 2013

  Website redesigned; recognized as one of "Berlin's Best Employers".

• 2011

  First delicatessen shop in Potsdam opens.

• 2008

  A bakery and confectionery business dating back to 1871 becomes part of the company.

• 2007

  Michael Lindner receives the Federal Cross of Merit for training young people.

• 2006

  Michael Lindner named "Entrepreneur of the Year"; Lindner Catering launched.

• 2005

  Company receives the German Retail Prize (Deutscher Handelspreis) in the management-performance category; stores adopt the name Lindner.

• 1998

  First delicatessen shop in Hamburg opens.

• 1997

  Brand colors change from red and blue to blue and gold.

• 1991

  Michael Lindner opens the first in-house bakery.

• 1989

  After 39 years, Robert Lindner hands the company to his son Michael Lindner.

• 1980

  The 25th delicatessen shop in Berlin opens.

• 1964

  First delicatessen shop opens; collaboration with a bakery begins, leading to the Lindner Krustenbrot.

• 1950

  Robert Lindner founds the company, selling at a weekly market in Berlin-Schmargendorf.

Owner-managed Berlin delicatessen brand combining traditional craftsmanship, in-house production and retail, positioned as a premium fine-food and enjoyment (Esskultur) provider.

• Lindner Krustenbrot

  Signature crusty bread baked unchanged since 1950.

• Delicatessen specialties

  Around 3,000 specialties from the in-house kitchen, bakery and confectionery and selected manufactories.

• Bavarian classics

  Obazda, pretzels, Weisswurst, Leberkäse and other specialties.

• Cakes and pastries

  Handcrafted cakes and confectionery, including seasonal items.

• Lindner Catering

  Catering service launched in 2006.

1. 1Startseite | lindner-esskultur.delindner-esskultur.de
2. 2Robert Lindner GmbH – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Robert Lindner (Unternehmen) – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org